Friday, November 09, 2007

We apologize that our first post of the 2007-2008 Moshiko American Football in Israel season is coming several weeks into the schedule, but we have tremendous news to report for our first time readers, and especially for those who have subscribed to our blog for a few years now. Apparently, Derech Etz Chaim is the talk of the league. They find themselves at the top of the standings with 14 points after 10 games. Though the rest of the teams in the league do hold games in hand, DEC has put themselves in good position to make a run deep into the postseason.

In a clever money-making scheme, the league has set up a new doubleheader system this season whereby each half of what was a single game last season is now considered its own game. So whichever team is leading at halftime is awarded a victory and the scores revert back to 0-0 for the second half.

In Week 5 action last weekend, DEC played their ninth and tenth games against the previously undefeated Ner Yaakov Cobras. The DEC offense was forced into a 4-and-out on their first possession, and trailed 7-0 when Ner Yaakov scored a first-possession touchdown. DEC quarterback Yerucham Pliner was intercepted on the next possession, which the Cobras quickly turned into a 14-0 lead just four minutes into the game. Fortunately for DEC, there was still enough time to make a comeback.

The offense took the field and got it into gear...

A long pass from Pliner to Jacob Kon led to a touchdown. After a successful 2-point conversion, DEC was left with just a 6-point deficit at 14-8.

After the defense did its job and held the Cobras, the offense continued on their comeback trail...

DEC scored a tying touchdown, but could not take the lead as the extra-point attempt was not converted.

Ner Yaakov was left with two minutes to come up with a winning drive. However, on the ensuing drive, the DEC defense forced a timely turnover (the play is in the first ten seconds of the video)...

Eli Tabaria took the brunt of a correctly penalized tackle after intercepting a Ner Yaakov pass that was tipped by safety Sam Ash and cornerback Jacob Kon. DEC had one last opportunity to score and come away with the win...

The offense reached the brink of the goal line, but were unable to pierce their way through as time expired, settling instead for the tie.

The second game of the doubleheader started out with a bang...

Pliner connected with Ash for a 60-yard touchdown pass, and Kon converted the 2-point conversion with an incredible leaping catch for an early 8-0 lead.

The defensive squads dominated the remainder of the game until Ner Yaakov put together a lengthy drive in the final minutes to finally get on the board. But the DEC defense made the stop that really counted, and that was on the Cobras' two-point conversion. Ner Yaakov was out of luck after the unsuccessful attempt, as DEC ran out the clock and handed the Cobras their first defeat of the season.

DEC will have byes in Week 6 and Week 7, during which we will attempt to give our readers a better understanding of who the players on the team are and what kind of success we may expect from the team. Here's to a record-breaking season!